February 2018 Wrap-up

February's TBR Pile (23/28):

1. MVPA Book Club Selection: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson (iPad) ✓
2. TBR Pile: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins ✓
3. Reading Assignment: Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (iPad) ✓
4. Book of the Month Club (December): The English Wife by Lauren Willig ✓
5. Book of the Month Club (January): As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner
6. Book of the Month Club (February): The Philosopher's Flight by Tom Miller
7. Series Pick: The Stone Angel by Juliet Dark ✓
8. Series Pick: A Toxic Trousseau by Juliet Blackwell ✓
9. Series Pick: The Gunslinger by Stephen King ✓
10. Comics Pick: Saga Vol. 8 ✓
11. Comics Pick: Moonshine Vol. 1 ✓
12. Comics Pick: Forbidden brides of the faceless slaves in the secret house of the night of dread desire by Neil Gaiman ✓
13. Comics Pick: Low Vol. 1 ✓
14. Comics Pick: The Last Temptation
15. Comics Pick: Kingsman: The Secret Service ✓
16. Comics Pick: Monstress Vol. 2 ✓
17. Comics Pick: Revival Vol. 7 ✓
18. Comics Pick: House of Mystery: Room and Boredom
19. Comics Pick: Jane by Brosh McKenna ✓
20. Comics Pick: ApocalyptiGirl ✓
21. Romance Pick: A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh
22. Nonfiction Pick: Literary Wonderlands by Laura Miller ✓
23. Nonfiction Owned Pick: The Poet and the Murderer by Simon Worrall ✓
24. Random Pick: Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal ✓
25. Added: The Day the Dead Came to Show and Tell by Mira Grant ✓
26. Added: Revival Vol. 4 ✓
27. Added: Revival Vol. 5 ✓
28. Added: Revival Vol. 6 ✓

1,000,000 Page Goal:

Monthly Total: 4617 pages
Pages Remaining: 689,131 pages

Current Read - As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner

Books I Gave Up On (0)

Books bought/received (2) -- While on my weekend retreat, I picked up two books at the used book store. Really excited for both of these as I keep hearing them recommended on multiple podcasts.

March's TBR Pile:

1. MVPA Book Club Selection: The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (not pictured)
2. TBR Pile: The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
3. Reading Assignment: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
4. Book of the Month Club (February): The Philosopher's Flight by Tom Miller
5. Book of the Month Club (March): TBD
6. Series Pick: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
7. Series Pick: Spirit Bound by Rachel Hawkins
8. Series Pick: Ramses the Damned: The Passion of Cleopatra by Anne Rice
9. Comics Pick: The Wicked + the Divine Vol. 6
10. Comics Pick: One Week in the Library by W. Prince, John Amor, and Frazer Irving
11. Romance Pick: A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh
12. Classics Pick: Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
13. Nonfiction Pick: The Words We Live By by Linda Monk
14. Carryover Pick: As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner

Movies watched

• Logan Lucky -- We usually enjoy Soderbergh's movies. 
• Mr. Right -- Hilarious! We do love Sam Rockwell in this house.
• Heavy Metal -- Wow! What the hell did I just watch?
• Murder on the Orient Express -- Really enjoyed this one, especially all of the blocking, camera angles, and use of glass.

TV Shows watched

• The Magicians S3 -- Excited to start the journey on the Muntjac.
• The Good Place S2 -- Holy cow that was a crazy season...
• People of Earth S2 -- I'm still loving this show.
• Last Week Tonight -- So glad it's back!

Comments - Another amazing month of reading! I have no idea how I read as much as I did, but I'm totally here for it. Let's hope I can keep this rolling into March...

Next up on the TBR pile:

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Title: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

Author: Neil deGrasse Tyson

Publisher: Norton and Company 2017

Genre: Nonfiction - Science 

Pages: 224

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Modern Mrs. Darcy - Essay Collection

What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? There’s no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson.

But today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. So Tyson brings the universe down to Earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in tasty chapters consumable anytime and anywhere in your busy day.

While you wait for your morning coffee to brew, for the bus, the train, or a plane to arrive, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry will reveal just what you need to be fluent and ready for the next cosmic headlines: from the Big Bang to black holes, from quarks to quantum mechanics, and from the search for planets to the search for life in the universe.

Our book club selection for February (actually the meeting isn't until next weekend due to last weekend's retreat). I was looking forward to learning more about astrophysics and this did not disappoint. I have always enjoyed Tyson's way of relating scientific information. This collection of essays has some great pieces with a ton of information about the universe. I know I didn't really retain all the information and will have to reread this one soon. But that's okay, Tyson's style of writing will make that reread enjoyable. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

Title: Shades of Milk and Honey (The Glamourist #1)

Author: Mary Robinette Kowal

Publisher: Tor 2010

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 306

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Modern Mrs. Darcy - Red in a Day; A to Z - S; I Love Libraries

Shades of Milk and Honey is exactly what we could expect from Jane Austen if she had been a fantasy writer: Pride and Prejudice meets Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. It is an intimate portrait of a woman, Jane, and her quest for love in a world where the manipulation of glamour is considered an essential skill for a lady of quality.

Jane and her sister Melody vie for the attentions of eligible men, and while Jane's skill with glamour is remarkable, it is her sister who is fair of face. When Jane realizes that one of Melody's suitors is set on taking advantage of her sister for the sake of her dowry, she pushes her skills to the limit of what her body can withstand in order to set things right-and, in the process, accidentally wanders into a love story of her own.

I'll admit that I was a bit skeptical of this book when I first started reading. Based off of the blurbs from the back, I was unsure of how this book could live up to a description of it being a cross between Jane Austen and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.  And yet, the volume delivered on the promise. I was immediately drawn into a seemingly Austen-like world except for the fact that magic in the form of glamours is real. I connected to Jane and dove straight into her world. I ended up speeding through this book, finishing it in less than 24 hours. I just had to see what became of Jane and Melody and Beth, what Mr. Vincent created, who the scoundrel was, and how everything would be resolved in the end. This volume can be read as a stand-alone novel, but I'm glad and excited to read the rest of the series soon.

The Glamourist

• #1 Shades of Milk and Honey
• #2 Glamour in Glass
• #3 Without a Summer
• #4 Valour and Vanity
• #5 Of Noble Family

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday -- Welshly Arms "Legendary"

They are playing this song across multiple XM channels.

The Gunslinger by Stephen King

Title: The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1)

Author: Stephen King

Publisher: Scribner 1982

Genre: Horror

Pages: 251

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Scifi; Popsugar - Antihero; I Love Libraries

A #1 national bestseller, The Gunslinger introduces readers to one of Stephen King’s most powerful creations, Roland of Gilead: The Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner on a spellbinding journey into good and evil. In his desolate world, which mirrors our own in frightening ways, Roland tracks The Man in Black, encounters an enticing woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with the boy from New York named Jake.

This series has been on my lists for years, years I tell you! I don't know why I waited so long to start this one. I finally did and it's amazing! I have enjoyed some of King's writing and this one seems to be the kind of King that I enjoy. We get a big world(s), some spooky happenings, cryptic messages, an antihero, a villain, an audience connection point, and plenty of atmosphere. The first book isn't super long, but even then, I sped through it in two days. I just couldn't stop myself from reading about The Gunslinger's walk getting him closer and closer to the man in black... On to the next book soon!

The Dark Tower:

• #0.5 The Little Sisters of Eluria
• #1 The Gunslinger
• #2 The Drawing of the Three
• #3 The Waste Lands
• #4 Wizard and Glass
• #4.5 The Wind Through the Keyhole
• #5 Wolves of the Calla
• #6 Song of Susannah
• #7 The Dark Tower

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jane by Aline Brosh McKenna and Ramon Perez

Title: Jane

Author: Aline Brosh McKenna and Ramon Perez

Publisher: Boom 2017

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 224

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

A powerful modern day reimagining of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel Jane Eyre. Jane learns that in the world of New York’s elite, secrets are the greatest extravagance and she must decide if she should trust the man she loves or do whatever it takes to protect his daughter from the consequences of his deception.

I didn't realize that this was a Jane Eyre adaptation when I grabbed it at the library. Pleasant surprise over here... Once I realized what it was, I really enjoyed this slim volume. The updates were very in tune with the 21st century. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

Literary Wonderlands Edited by Laura Miller

Title: Literary Wonderlands: A Journey Through the Greatest Fictional Words Ever Created

Edited by: Laura Miller

Publisher: Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers 2016

Genre: Nonfiction - Literature

Pages: 319

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: A to Z - L; I Love Libraries 

A glorious collection that delves deep into the inception, influences, and literary and historical underpinnings of nearly 100 of our most beloved fictional realms.

Literary Wonderlands is a thoroughly researched, wonderfully written, and beautifully produced book that spans four thousand years of creative endeavor. From Spenser's The Fairie Queene to Wells's The Time Machine to Murakami's 1Q84 it explores the timeless and captivating features of fiction's imagined worlds including the relevance of the writer's own life to the creation of the story, influential contemporary events and philosophies, and the meaning that can be extracted from the details of the work. Each piece includes a detailed overview of the plot and a "Dramatis Personae." Literary Wonderlands is a fascinating read for lovers of literature, fantasy, and science fiction.

Random library pick that I really loved! This collection of essays explore 98 works of of fiction involving amazing created worlds. While I recognized most of the works (and have read a good chunk of them), I loved reading about the origins, meanings, and interesting facts about each one. Miller organizes the works chronologically with references to previous works and other well-known works. I loved reading these short essays so much that I decided to create a new perpetual reading challenge for the works presented. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

How About Some Videos?

So excited about this one!!! Jack-Jack!!!

Hee hee killer mermaids

Hmmm... we'll see

Very creepy indeed!

Yeah I'm excited about this one

I'm here for Lando

Kinda intrigued by this one... 

ApocalyptiGirl by Andrew MacLean

Title: ApocalyptiGirl: An Aria For the End Times

Author: Andrew MacLean

Publisher: Dark Horse 2015

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 96

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Alone at the end of the world, Aria is woman with a mission! Traipsing through an overgrown city with her only companion, a cat named Jelly Beans, Aria's search for an ancient relic with immeasurable power has been fruitless so far. But when a run in with a creepy savage sets her on a path to complete her quest, she'll face death head on in the hopes of claiming her prize and, if all goes according to plan, finally returning home.

Another random library pick for the win! This slim comic is a great adventure story set after the apocalypse. I loved Aria and Jelly Beans and their explorations. Really enjoyed this one.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Revival Vol. 6-7

Title: Revival Vol 6: Thy Loyal Sons and Daughters

Author: Tim Seeley, Mike Norton,

Publisher: Image 2016

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

For one day in rural central Wisconsin, the dead came back to life. Now it's up to Officer Dana Cypress to deal with the media scrutiny, religious zealots, and government quarantine that has come with them. In the aftermath of a terrorist attack, Dana and Em must overcome new obstacles in a city where nothing is as it seems.

Title: Revival Vol 7: Forward

Author: Tim Seeley, Mike Norton,

Publisher: Image 2016

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

For one day in rural central Wisconsin, the dead came back to life. Now it's up to Officer Dana Cypress to deal with the media scrutiny, religious zealots, and government quarantine that has come with them.
Now, with Dana and her Reviver sister on the run from the law and an Amish assassin, acting Military Governor, General Cale unleashes her plan for the citizens of Wausau.

I finally made it through the stack of back Revival comics that I grabbed from the library. I read these two volumes back-to-back after being fully drawn into this crazy story. Things are progressing at a scary-fast pace now. Answers are beginning to come into the light and the number of unanswered questions is growing smaller. Now to attempt to get a hold of Volume 8 to see what happens next!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday -- Red Sun Rising "Deathwish"

An Octane favorite right now...

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Poet and the Murderer by Simon Worrall

Title: The Poet and the Murderer: A True Story of Literary Crime and the Art of Forgery

Author: Simon Worrall

Publisher: Plume 2002

Genre: History

Pages: 270

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - True Crime; A to Z - P

In The Poet and the Murderer, acclaimed journalist Simon Worrall takes readers into the haunting mind of Mark Hofmann, one of the most daring literary forgers and remorseless murderers of the late twentieth century.

I really really really wanted to enjoyed this mystery/history, and yet I didn't love it. It's a good book and a very interesting premise. I love books about solving history's mysteries, but this one just fell flat for me. The writing style is a bit dry and plodding. I would have loved a narrative history approach to this one. But instead, we get what reads like a newspaper article. A 270 page newspaper article. I just couldn't stay connected to the story. Good book, just not for me...

Next up on the TBR pile:

Life Right Now #5

As I look outside my window: The sun is going down on a lovely Saturday.

Right now I am: Writing this post while watching The Avengers before eating leftover pizza for dinner. 

On my bedside table: The Gunslinger by Stephen King; Shades of Milk and Honey  by Mary Robinette Kowal; Ramses 2: The Passion of Cleopatra by Anne Rice

On my tv this week: Some episodes of The Librarians, Supernatural, and People of Earth. We also watched the new Murder on the Orient Express. I really liked it but can understand why some people did not.

Listening to: Lots of podcasts, like usual. I caught up with What Should I Read Next, Pod Save America, and Hey Crafty Babes. I also listened to a few back episodes of Lore. 

On the menu for this week:

• Monday - Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken, Broccoli, and Bacon
• Tuesday - Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Wednesday - Garlic Ranch Chicken Pizza
• Thursday - Out at the retreat
• Friday - Tacos at the retreat
• Saturday - Out at the retreat
• Sunday - Italian Beef Sandwiches

On my to do list: I am leaving on Thursday for a four day retreat. Hallelujah!!!! I still need to do a few things before leaving. I have to do the rest of the grocery shopping (we eat at the rental house for most meals), pick up a little surprise for our participants, pack, and prep some craft projects. 

Happening this week:

• Monday - Home day? 
• Tuesday - Playdate at Mel's Play Place
• Wednesday - Grocery shopping, library drop, bank run, surprise pick-up
• Thursday - Retreat day!!!!
• Friday - Retreat
• Saturday - Retreat
• Sunday - Retreat

What I am creating: On Saturday, I hosted crop day and knocked out a ton of little card kit projects. My unfinished box is a little lighter now. I also finally finished my December Daily pages. I'm taking a small bag of craft projects to the retreat. 

My simple pleasures: Hot tea, Chex mix, a firm pillow

Looking around the house: A mess as usual.

From the camera: Park time!

Revival Vol. 4-5

Title: Revival Vol 4: Escape to Wisconsin

Author: Tim Seeley, Mike Norton, Jenny Frison

Publisher: Image 2014

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 128

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

For one day in rural central Wisconsin, the dead came back to life. Now the living and the recently returned struggle to maintain a sense of normalcy, amidst political and religious conflicts. Dana Cypress must solve the murder of her revived sister, as her own life falls apart around her.

Things in Wisconsin have gotten very interesting in this story. I immediately fell right back into the world and the mysteries that abound. And the interlude in New York was a nice little change of setting. The addition of the big reveal at the end of volume clinched my desire to immediately continue the series. 

Title: Revival Vol 5: Gathering of Waters

Author: Tim Seeley, Mike Norton

Publisher: Image 2015

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 128

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

For one day in rural central Wisconsin, the dead came back to life. Now it's up to Officer Dana Cypress to deal with the media scrutiny, religious zealots, and government quarantine that have come with them. As the pregnant Em searches for the missing father of her child, Dana is embroiled in a conspiracy to contain Revivers that ends in fire.

Oh man! The twists in this volume had me screaming for more. So very good!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Monstress Volume 2

Title: Monstress Volume 2

Author: Marjorie Liu, Sana Takeda

Publisher: Image 2017

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 152

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

The Eisner-nominated MONSTRESS is back! Maika, Kippa, and Ren journey to Thyria in search of answers to her past... and discover a new, terrible, threat. Collects MONSTRESS #7-12

I really enjoyed the first volume in this series, but this one was so much better! Maiko is officially off on her own adventure searching for answers to all kinds of questions. I loved the introduction of many new great characters and even some new species. Plus we get the visit to the mysterious Island of Bones. Very scary! Definitely a series that I am going to continue to read!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• Scar tissue pain is the absolute worst. Not having a good week at all...
• Crazy drama on The Bachelor this week and I am so here for it!
• Reading a ton of comics this week and it's got me excited for reading again. 
• I'm counting down the days until the retreat. Seriously can't wait. I want to package and go right now, but need to wait...
• Itching to go shopping for clothes this week but financially probably not the best idea. Arthur needs new clothes first. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

Low Vol. 1

Title: Low Volume 1: The Delirium of Hope

Author: Rick Remender, Greg Tocchini

Publisher: Image 2015

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 144

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Millennia ago, mankind fled the earth's surface into the bottomless depths of the darkest oceans. Shielded from a merciless sun's scorching radiation, the human race tried to stave off certain extinction by sending robotic probes far into the galaxy to search for a new home among the stars. Generations later, one family is about to be torn apart in a conflict that will usher in the final race to save humanity from a world beyond hope.

Dive into an aquatic fantasy like none you've ever seen before, as writer Rick Remender (Fear Agent, Uncanny Avengers) and artist Greg Tocchini (Last Days of American Crime) bring you a tale mankind's final hour in the cold, deathly dark of the sea.

This was a weird one, but in a very good way. I love the entire premise of this series and that's initially drew me in. How would humanity cope with being under the water for that long? What would happen to our great cities? Would we continue to hope for a future or resign ourselves to the end? I loved how the opening panels created the world and more importantly the two sides of the human outlook in Johl and Stel. Such a great set-up! From there, I followed the storyline as it jumped forward in time and plunged us into the water and into another city. I can't wait to read the next volume.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Title: Kingsman: The Secret Service

Author: Mark Millar, Dave Gibbons

Publisher: Image 2017

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 176

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

THE SECRET SERVICE: KINGSMAN is the critically acclaimed comic book series by Kick-Ass writer MARK MILLAR and Watchmen's DAVE GIBBONS. Now a Hollywood blockbuster starring Colin Firth and Taron Egerton, and directed by MATTHEW VAUGHN, KINGSMAN reinvents the spy genre for the 21st century. The story follows a British secret agent who takes his wayward nephew under his wing and trains him to become a gentleman spy. Together, they uncover a plot that links kidnapped celebrities with a plot to eradicate 90 percent of the human race! 

I picked this up at the library because I really enjoyed the movies. After reading through the comic, I can see the bits that the movie pulled and the bits that it changed. I did really enjoy the volume and the characters introduced. The villain storyline was a bit weak, but that's okay. The villain storyline isn't really the focus. Overall a very entertaining story.

Next up no the TBR pile:

Music Monday -- Kendrick Lamar feat SZA "All the Stars"

The boys and I have been listening to the entire album all weekend. Sooooo good!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Life Right Now #4

Right now I am: Waiting for J to get home with sushi for dinner. I just didn't have it in me to cook tonight...

Thinking and pondering: What should I do during my retreat in two weeks? I might have a few hours to myself. I'm thinking a book, maybe a drive to the coast, maybe a little bookstore shopping, pie...

On my bedside table: The Gunslinger by Stephen King; As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner

On my tv this week: J and watched a few episodes of Supernatural, People of Earth, and The Good Place. Plus a couple of movies including Mr. Right (very entertaining).

Listening to: The boys and I listened to a couple new albums this week. We enjoyed the Black Panther Soundtrack, Dashboard Confessional, and Fall Out Boy. Quentin liked the Black Panther Soundtrack the best.

On the menu for this week:

• Monday - Kielbasa Skillet
• Tuesday - Dinner at a friend's house
• Wednesday - Fish and Chips
• Thursday - Ham and Cheese; Grilled Cheese
• Friday - Garlic Shrimp Pasta
• Saturday - Chicken Cordon Bleu Dip
• Sunday - Blackened Salmon

On my to do list: I need to make scones and address Valentines today for tomorrow's exchange. I also have a few email check-ins for various projects. I'm sure there are some other small tasks to do.

Happening this week:

• Monday - Valentines Exchange at the park
• Tuesday - Dinner at a friends house to watch her appearance on Jeopardy!!!
• Wednesday - Oakland Zoo visit
• Thursday - TK Informational meeting; Craft class
• Friday - Playdate at our house; Craft class
• Saturday - Crop Day at our house
• Sunday - Lazy day?

What I am creating: I finally finished my 2017 Memory Planner so I can get started on 2018. I also want to complete a few random card kits (get them out of the way). And I might just start working on 2017's Project Life albums again.

My simple pleasures: I'm all about books this week. I've been enjoying a large stack of comics and a few novels.

Looking around the house: Everything looked decent yesterday morning and then the kids decided to change that. Oh man there is crap everywhere now...

From the camera: Best seat in the house!

Next up on the TBR pile: